Wrexham are looking for attacking additions in the January transfer window and one potential move may seriously impress Jamie Carragher.
Wrexham are still in the League One promotion race but Phil Parkinson will be frustrated with recent results.
Failing to kill off games is not a trait often associated with clubs who win promotion, but it’s one Wrexham have been showing.
Wrexham were 2-1 up against Cambridge United at the STōK Cae Ras, only to end up drawing thanks to a late penalty for the visitors.
Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers saw Wrexham take a 1-0 lead, but another late goal handed the Pirates a share of the spoils.
Dropping four points from winning positions against two teams struggling in League One isn’t good enough – and it may only heighten Wrexham’s need for attacking firepower.
Jamie Carragher on Wrexham transfer target
Wrexham want another forward in January according to reports and a few names have been mentioned.
Reports last week suggested that Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford is on the Wrexham radar for January.
Bamford’s Leeds teammate Joe Gelhardt is another player of interest to Wrexham, though a deal is considered ‘not easy’.
The former Wigan Athletic talent has played just nine minutes of Championship action this season, across two substitute appearances.
It’s clear that Daniel Farke isn’t counting on Gelhardt and a January move – even if only on loan – could make sense for all.
The 22-year-old is a skilful talent in the final third and he has previously been given a big billing by top Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
Speaking in March 2022, as quoted by The Boot Room, Carragher hailed Gelhardt as a ‘special talent’.
Carragher raved about Gelhardt’s quality for Leeds, suggesting that people would be talking about him for a long, long time to come.
“He’s a special, special talent. He’ll be remembered now for this big goal, but I can assure you, he is a lad we will be talking about a lot in a few years’ time, he really is,” said Carragher.
Gelhardt came up in the Wigan Athletic ranks alongside Carragher’s son James, so the former Liverpool man has seen plenty of Gelhardt in action over the years.
Carragher was clearly impressed, not just with Gelhardt’s early development at Wigan, but also how he impacted Premier League games with Leeds.
Wrexham will face competition for Joe Gelhardt
Recent times haven’t been quite so kind to Gelhardt, who scored just three times in 18 games on loan at Sunderland in 2023.
Gelhardt really hasn’t been in favour under Farke and he simply must leave Leeds in January in order to fulfil Carragher’s prediction.
Wrexham may offer the playing time that Gelhardt so desperately craves but there is a real race for his signature.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that Championship sides Stoke City, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle and Preston North End all fancy signing Gelhardt.
Scottish giants Rangers and even two teams in Belgium fancy signing Gelhardt, so he is certainly a man in demand.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds may need to dig deep to get a deal done, but Wrexham have shown real pulling power in recent years and will be a real threat to snatch Gelhardt’s signature ahead of Championship clubs.